Open

The definition of open is someone or something which is not closed, not enclosed or not sealed.

An example of an open business is one that is accepting customers.

An example of an open container is a container with the lid off.

This business is open.

Open

adjective

in a state which permits access, entrance, or exit; not closed, covered, clogged, or shut: open doors

closed, but unlocked: the car is open

in a state which permits freedom of view or passage; not enclosed, fenced in, sheltered, screened, etc.; unobstructed; clear: open fields

having few or no trees, houses, etc.: open country

unsealed; unwrapped

not covered over; without covering, top, etc.

vulnerable to attack, etc.; unprotected or undefended

spread out; unfolded; unclosed; expanded: an open book

having spaces between; having gaps, holes, interstices, etc.: open ranks

free from ice: the lake is open

having relatively little snow or frost; mild: an open winter

that may be entered, used, competed in, shared, visited, etc. by all: an open meeting

ready to admitcustomers, clients, etc.

free to be argued or contested; not settled or decided: an open question

free from prejudice or bigotry; not closed to new ideas, etc.: an open mind

liberal; generous

☆ free from legal restrictions: an open season on deer

☆ free from discriminatory restrictions based on race, religion, etc.: open housing

☆ free from effective regulation with respect to drinking, gambling, etc.: the city is wide open

not regulated, organized, or conducted along traditional or conventional lines: open marriage, open education

characterized by social mobility, political freedom, diversity of opinion, etc.: an open society

in force or operation: an open account

not already taken, occupied, or engaged: the job is still open

free to be accepted or rejected

not closed against access; accessible; available

not hidden or secret; generally known; public: an open quarrel

frank; candid; direct; honest: an open manner

Math. of a set of points that is the complement of a closed set of points, as the set of all points outside a circle

Music

not stopped by the finger: said of a string

not closed at the top: said of an organ pipe

produced by an open string or pipe, or, in wind instruments, brasses, etc., without a slide or key: said of a tone

not muted

Phonet.

articulated with the tongue as low as possible in the mouth; low: said of certain vowels

articulated with the tongue in the lower of two possible positions: the open e and close e in Italian

articulated with the organs of speech not in close contact; fricative: said of certain consonants

ending in a vowel or diphthong: said of a syllable

Printing

designating or of a style of type the letters of which are cast in outline so that the inside of letters shows white

with wide spacing between words or lines of type; not solid

Sports designating a stance, as of a golfer or batter in baseball, in which the front foot is farther than the rear foot from an imaginary straight line, as one joining tee and green or one joining home plate and second base

Origin of open

Middle English ; from Old English akin to German offen ; from Proto-Germanic an unverified form upana: for Indo-European base see up

transitive verb

to make or cause to be open; specif.,

to unclose; unfasten: open the door

to remove obstructions from: to open a drain

to make an opening or openings in: to open an abscess

to make or produce (a hole, way, etc.)

to make spaces between; spread out; expand: to open ranks

to unclose, unfold, or unroll: to open a book

to make accessible or subject (to an influence or action); expose

to make available for use, competition, or participation, without restriction, taxation, fee, etc.

to free from prejudice and bigotry; make liberal and generous: to open one's mind

to make known, public, etc.; reveal; disclose

to begin; enter upon; start; commence: to open the bidding, a session, etc.

to cause to start operating, going, etc.: to open a new shop

to undo, recall, or set aside (a judgment, settlement, etc.), so as to leave the matter open to further action

intransitive verb

to become open

to spread out; expand; unroll; unfold

to become free from prejudice, etc.; become liberal and generous

to become revealed, disclosed, etc.; come into view

to be or act as an opening; give access: with to, into, on, etc.

to begin; start

to start operating, going, bidding, etc.; specif., in the stock exchange, to show an indicated price level at the beginning of the day: steel opened high

to begin a series of performances, games, etc.

noun

any of various tournaments, esp. in golf or tennis, open to both professionals and amateurs

Electricity Containing a gap across which electricity cannot pass: an open circuit.

Mathematics

a. Of or relating to an interval containing neither of its endpoints.

b. Of or being a set such that at least one neighborhood of every point in the set is within the set.

c. Of or being a set that is the complement of a closed set.

21. Sports

a. Having the forward foot farther from the intended point of impact with the ball than the rear foot: an open batting stance.

b. Held or swung with the top or outer edge of the striking face pointing slightly farther away from the objective than the lower or inner edge: The club struck the ball with an open face, causing a slice.

22. Physics

a. Of or relating to an open system.

b. Of or relating to an open universe.

verb

o·pened, o·pen·ing, o·pens

verb

, transitive

a. To make no longer closed or fastened: open a window.

b. To remove obstructions from; clear: open a drain.

a. To make or force an opening in: The surgeon opened the patient's chest.

b. To make (a hole or gap) in something: opened a hole in the levee.

c. To form spaces or gaps between: soldiers opening ranks.

d. To break the continuity of; make a gap in: open a circuit.

a. To remove the cover, cork, or lid from: open a jar.

b. To remove the wrapping from: open a package.

a. To move apart or unfold so that the inner parts are displayed; spread out: open a newspaper; open a book.

b. To part the lids or lips of: Open your eyes. Open your mouth.

a. To begin or form the start of; initiate: The scene that opens the novel.

b. To begin the operation of: open a new business.

c. To begin (the action in a game of cards) by making the first bid, placing the first bet, or playing the first lead.

To make available for use: opened the area to commercial development; opened the computer file and retrieved some data.

To make more responsive, understanding, or generous: a question that opened his mind to a different way of looking at the problem.

To make known to the public: opened the formerly classified files to reporters.

Sports To modify (one's stance), as in baseball or golf, so that it is open.

verb

, intransitive

To become no longer closed or fastened: The door opened slowly.

To draw apart; separate: The wound opened under pressure.

To spread apart; unfold: The tulips opened.

To come into view; become revealed: The plain opened before us.

To become responsive, understanding, or generous: His heart finally opened, and he understood her disappointment.

a. To be or serve as a beginning; commence: The meeting opened with a call to order.

b. To give an initial statement in a trial.

c. To begin business or operation: The store opens early on Saturday.

d. To be performed, shown, or made available to the public for the first time: The play opens next week.

e. To be priced or listed at a specified amount when trading begins: Shares opened high and fell sharply.

f. To make a bid, bet, or lead in starting a game of cards.

To give access: The room opens onto a terrace.

noun

An unobstructed area of land or water: sailed out of the harbor into the open.

The outdoors: camping in the open.

An undisguised or unconcealed state: brought the problem out into the open.

A tournament or contest in which both professional and amateur players may participate.

A beginning: Shares were down at the market open.

Phrasal Verb: open up To spread out; unfold: A green valley opened up before us. To begin operation or start (something): The new store opens up next month. The band opened up the concert with an old favorite. To begin firing: The artillery opened up at dawn.Informal To speak freely and candidly: At last the frightened witness opened up and told the truth. To make an opening in by cutting: The surgeon opened up the patient's chest. To make available or accessible: open up new markets.Informal To accelerate. Used of a motor vehicle. Sports To get a sudden, insurmountable lead in (an athletic contest).

open - Computer Definition

(1) To engage a file for reading and writing. The open procedure "locks on" to an existing file. Very often, the term "open" is used to mean "open and run," in which case if the file is a script of some type, it will be executed, not just opened for examination. In some cases, the difference can be critical. Opening a batch file to view its contents is harmless, whereas opening a batch file and running it causes actions to be taken. Contrast with close.

open - Legal Definition

Open

in a state which permits access, entrance, or exit; not closed, covered, clogged, or shut: open doors

closed, but unlocked: the car is open

in a state which permits freedom of view or passage; not enclosed, fenced in, sheltered, screened, etc.; unobstructed; clear: open fields

having few or no trees, houses, etc.: open country

unsealed; unwrapped

not covered over; without covering, top, etc.

vulnerable to attack, etc.; unprotected or undefended

spread out; unfolded; unclosed; expanded: an open book

having spaces between; having gaps, holes, interstices, etc.: open ranks

free from ice: the lake is open

having relatively little snow or frost; mild: an open winter

that may be entered, used, competed in, shared, visited, etc. by all: an open meeting

ready to admitcustomers, clients, etc.

free to be argued or contested; not settled or decided: an open question

free from prejudice or bigotry; not closed to new ideas, etc.: an open mind

liberal; generous

☆ free from legal restrictions: an open season on deer

☆ free from discriminatory restrictions based on race, religion, etc.: open housing

☆ free from effective regulation with respect to drinking, gambling, etc.: the city is wide open

not regulated, organized, or conducted along traditional or conventional lines: open marriage, open education

characterized by social mobility, political freedom, diversity of opinion, etc.: an open society

in force or operation: an open account

not already taken, occupied, or engaged: the job is still open

free to be accepted or rejected

not closed against access; accessible; available

not hidden or secret; generally known; public: an open quarrel

frank; candid; direct; honest: an open manner

Math. of a set of points that is the complement of a closed set of points, as the set of all points outside a circle

Music

not stopped by the finger: said of a string

not closed at the top: said of an organ pipe

produced by an open string or pipe, or, in wind instruments, brasses, etc., without a slide or key: said of a tone

not muted

Phonet.

articulated with the tongue as low as possible in the mouth; low: said of certain vowels

articulated with the tongue in the lower of two possible positions: the open e and close e in Italian

articulated with the organs of speech not in close contact; fricative: said of certain consonants

ending in a vowel or diphthong: said of a syllable

Printing

designating or of a style of type the letters of which are cast in outline so that the inside of letters shows white

with wide spacing between words or lines of type; not solid

Sports designating a stance, as of a golfer or batter in baseball, in which the front foot is farther than the rear foot from an imaginary straight line, as one joining tee and green or one joining home plate and second base

Origin of open

Middle English ; from Old English akin to German offen ; from Proto-Germanic an unverified form upana: for Indo-European base see up

transitive verb

to make or cause to be open; specif.,

to unclose; unfasten: open the door

to remove obstructions from: to open a drain

to make an opening or openings in: to open an abscess

to make or produce (a hole, way, etc.)

to make spaces between; spread out; expand: to open ranks

to unclose, unfold, or unroll: to open a book

to make accessible or subject (to an influence or action); expose

to make available for use, competition, or participation, without restriction, taxation, fee, etc.

to free from prejudice and bigotry; make liberal and generous: to open one's mind

to make known, public, etc.; reveal; disclose

to begin; enter upon; start; commence: to open the bidding, a session, etc.

to cause to start operating, going, etc.: to open a new shop

to undo, recall, or set aside (a judgment, settlement, etc.), so as to leave the matter open to further action

intransitive verb

to become open

to spread out; expand; unroll; unfold

to become free from prejudice, etc.; become liberal and generous

to become revealed, disclosed, etc.; come into view

to be or act as an opening; give access: with to, into, on, etc.

to begin; start

to start operating, going, bidding, etc.; specif., in the stock exchange, to show an indicated price level at the beginning of the day: steel opened high

to begin a series of performances, games, etc.

noun

any of various tournaments, esp. in golf or tennis, open to both professionals and amateurs

Words near Open in the dictionary

Synonyms

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"Giving it away helps defuse complex intellectual property issues of ownership and control that can distract the universities from their missions to disseminate knowledge." - commmenting on MIT's Open Courseware program Hal Abelson